Opposition disrupts debate on food bill in Lok Sabha

The government Monday tried its best to debate and pass the National Food Security Bill but could not as the opposition continued to disrupt the house over the coal blocks allocation issue.

Food Minister K.V. Thomas moved the bill saying it was a key UPA legislation which would give the right to subsidised grain to around 67 percent of the population. However, the BJP, Samajwadi party (SP) and Akali Dal members disrupted the house over separate issues.

Under the bill, Thomas said that a beneficiary would get five kg grain per month at the rate of Rs.3 per kg rice, Rs.2 per kg wheat and Re.1 per kg coarse grains.

Amid the din, Trinamool Congress member Dinesh Trivedi supported the legislation by saying it was "the most crucial bill".

"It is unfortunate that we can't debate the bill," he said.

Nationalist Congress Party member Sanjay Naik said: "Our party supports the bill."

Congress member Sanjay Nirupam took a dig at the opposition saying "they have no concern for the poor, who would benefit from the food bill".

His party colleague Bhakta Charan Das said the bill was part of the Congress manifesto in the 2009 general election.

The government had tried to take up the bill last week also but could not as opposition members disrupted the house, demanding Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's resignation over the coal blocks issue.

Girija Vyas, who was in the chair, then adjourned the house till Tuesday.